A Study of Speech-Communication Education in Indiana Secondary Schools.

Donaldson, Alice

As part of a national assessment of speech communication education in secondary schools, a 1979 survey was conducted in 336 Indiana schools. Typically, the basic speech course offered in Indiana high schools was an elective, one semester course covering a combination of topics, including public speaking, interpersonal communication, debate, discussion, and oral interpretation. The most popular textbooks were "Art of Speaking" and "Patterns of Communication." Teachers determined grades through a combination of written examinations and graded oral presentations. When other speech courses were offered, drama and advanced speech appeared more than twice as often as radio-television and debate. Theatre was the most popular extracurricular activity followed by forensics, debate, and discussion. Comparisons with earlier studies from 1969 indicated that the number of schools with speech programs was fairly constant, although more schools were requiring speech for graduation in 1979. The 1979 profile of Indiana high school speech teachers resembled the 1969 teacher profile in youth, major and minors, variety of teaching courses, and degree of professional affiliation. More of the 1979 teachers had masters degrees than the 1969 teachers. (RL)